The finale countdown: Rosberg X Racing head to Uruguay to fight for the Championship
2 Dokumente
- RXR hopes to bring home the second Extreme E Championship trophy at the Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix
- Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson prepared for epic battle
- The German team are at the top of the standings with 83 points
- RXR team up with Plasticoin and Socobioma for a beach clean-up near Punta del Este as part of their Driven By Purpose Campaign
Neustadt, 24. November 2022. It is going to be the most important weekend for Rosberg X Racing, the 2021 title defender and leader of the Championship board. The team around Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson are gearing up for the decisive race of the 2022 Extreme E season. Like last year, the contender of Nico Rosberg’s team is once again X44 Vida Carbon Racing of Lewis Hamilton, which means the legendary F1 duel between the two former opponents continues.
The Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix will take place near the sandy beaches of Punta del Este, on the Atlantic facing, 660km-long coastline in South-eastern Uruguay. The ocean and its conservation are central to the country as its marine habitats support important fisheries, help to mitigate the impact of climate change, provide raw materials for the industry and provide opportunities for recreation. Uruguay’s ocean territory is home to many incredible marine species such as whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, rays, fish, birds and more.
RXR’s Driven by Purpose Campaign is therefore putting a specific emphasis on the conservation of marine habitats, collaborating with the local organisations Plasticoin and Socobioma. Ahead of the finale race, RXR visited a beach near Punta del Este, set within an area that is crucial for bird conservation and a great source of biodiversity. Together with a school class from La Barra, the team helped to collect and extract tiny plastic pieces from the sand. Microplastic is known to cause a variety of health issues in both marine animals and humans. The team used a specific machine that is able to filter and capture all types of microplastic, from 5 to 12 mm. For every kilogram of plastic collected, the children received virtual Plasticoins that can be redeemed for goods and services at 140 local stores. In addition, a part of the plastic was used to create a piece of art by environmental artist Luciana Gil, aided by the children and RXR drivers Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson.
The two Swedish drivers are not only enthusiastic conservationists, but also passionate racers, hoping to bring home the second Championship trophy for the team. A 17-point-lead on X44 means passing the finish line third in Uruguay will secure the German squad back-to-back Extreme E titles. As every aspect will count, RXR is hoping to win GridPlay to get the opportunity to pick its grid position for the Final first. Fans can vote here https://gridplay.extreme-e.com.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing driver, commented: “The Championship is up for grabs, so I am very eager to go racing this weekend. It was great to take part in the beach clean-up with kids from La Barra, and I really enjoyed the activity. Giving back to the local community is always an extra motivation for me ahead of the race action.“
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing driver, added: “It’s great to be here. The track is located on a wide grassy plain. We have never driven on such a surface before, so this will be interesting. Obviously, we will do our best as we strive for the victory in Uruguay, and I am confident we are in a good position to bring it home.”
Rosberg X Racing Team Principal Kimmo Liimatainen commented: “We are looking forward to the finale of the Championship. It is a premiere for us in Uruguay, and we are really stunned by this beautiful country. Our target is clear: we want to win. But a lot can happen in the next three days, so we will keep our cool and focus on what needs to be done.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Rosberg X Racing will host a virtual media roundtable with Nico Rosberg on Sunday, 27th November, at 8:30pm CET. If you would like to take part, please pre-register by confirming your name, publication and contact information via email to press@rosbergxracing.com.
Spots are limited and will be granted on a first come, first served basis.
About Rosberg X Racing
Rosberg X Racing was founded in 2020 ahead of the inaugural season of Extreme E. Led by 2016 Formula One World Champion and sustainability entrepreneur Nico Rosberg, the team is an evolution of Team Rosberg, founded in 1994 by Nico’s father and 1982 F1 World Champion, Keke Rosberg. The team has successfully competed in various racing series, including Formula BMW, Formula 3 and the German Touring Masters Championship (DTM), claiming a total of 38 DTM victories as well as three driver and two team championship titles. RXR builds on Team Rosberg’s success as well as Nico’s post-F1 career as an entrepreneur in the field of sustainable mobility.
Based in Neustadt, Germany, RXR exists to succeed in competition as it does in driving awareness and education in fighting climate change. Inspired by Extreme E’s mission to leave a positive legacy at each of the series’ diverse race locations, the team is committed to using motorsport as a platform to serve a greater purpose in tandem with all teams and drivers.
Nico Rosberg is the team’s CEO and Founder, with Kimmo Liimatainen undertaking the role of Team Principal.
About Plasticoin
Plasticoin is a triple impact virtual platform that, through an incentive program, rewards the recycling commitment of citizens and companies. Their main objective is the recovery of recyclable waste to prevent its accumulation in the environment. Juan Rivero, CEO Plasticoin aims to develop a more sustainable world and to reduce plastic waste in Uruguay.
About Socobioma
Socobioma is a non-profit organisation founded in 2006 by Lourdes Casas in Maldonado, Uruguay. Supported by volunteers, professionals and the local community, they seek to protect biodiversity. Annually, they receive more than 300 wild animals that require intensive care to return to their natural habitat. Including marine animals who got affected by ocean plastics.
About Luciana Gil, Environmental Artist
Luciana is an environmental artist and an ocean enthusiast. She faced the tremendous dimension of plastic pollution at the river “Río de la Plata” in Buenos Aires. Therefore, she initiated her Blog “Water Journey”. Back then, she discovered her passion to transform waste into art. The purpose of her work is to remind us of our responsibility to protect the environment and to reduce the alarming amount of plastic waste. She aims to raise awareness through a creative approach.
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